News, reviews & guidesSince2014
English
Latest newsPragmatic Play Wins EGR Italy AwardIndependent editorial coverage
Casino News Daily Learn with CND

Oscar’s Grind Betting System

CND illustrated guide explaining a guide

In short: Oscar’s Grind is a positive progression for even-money bets, described by Allan Wilson in 1965, that aims to win one unit per cycle. You keep the stake the same after a loss and raise it by one unit after a win, never betting more than needed to finish the cycle one unit ahead. Like every betting system, it cannot overcome the house edge.

casino-strategiesOscar’s Grind is an old betting system, and little is known about its origins. Yet, according to the available data, the first records about it date back to 1965, when the writer Allan Wilson described it in his book The Casino Gambler’s Guide and called it Oscar’s Grind because the name of the player he interviewed was Oscar. As for “Grind”, it refers to the notion that there is no bet that is too high and every day, a player “grinds out” some small winnings.

In the casino world “grinder” is a player who goes to the casino on regular basis and wins small amounts. Although there is no evidence that Oscar was a real person, Allan Wilson defined him as an outstanding player keen on roulette.

Oscar’s Grind Betting System Basics

Oscar’s Grind betting system is not complicated at all. You are supposed to bet in cycles and make one unit profit during each cycle. As soon as you make that profit, the cycle stops and you have to start a new one. And here comes the question about the amount of bets you can place. As a progressive betting system, Oscar’s Grind raises bets only after wins, which slows down losses during a losing streak but does not change the house edge.

In other words, if you lose, you are not supposed to increase the bet but if you win, you are required to increase it with 1 unit. The betting system is predominantly used in games that offer even-money bets and it is often used on roulette’s even-money bets.

In point of fact, the system consists of keeping the bets in the reasonable range although a long losing streak can still leave the player well behind.
The first thing the player should do is to set the betting limits and ensure the number of chips is sufficient for making a wager without missing even one spin. During a game of roulette, the single zero wheel is optimal in combination with the En Prison, which reduces the house edge.

However, if you opt for using the system in American Roulette, you have to carefully think about your actions as the house edge is usually more than 5%.

Although at first glance the system looks a bit complicated, you have to do nothing more than setting your betting limits and starting your wager from 1 unit. After a loss, the bet stays the same; after a win that does not complete the cycle, it goes up by one unit. The bet stays at 2 units until you make a profit. You have to increase it to 3 if losing series have occurred, followed by a win which cannot make up for the losses. To put it another way, your goal is to make a 1-unit profit in each cycle.

Liberty Slots Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$259

Slots.lv

Sign Up

100% up to

$2,000

+ 20 Spins

Bovada Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$1,000

Shazam Casino

Sign Up

250% up to

$2,500

Lincoln Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$100

+ 25 Spins

Red Stag Casino

Sign Up

275% up to

$550

+ 100 Spins

Sloto'Cash Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$500

Vegas Casino Online

Sign Up

400% up to

$500

Everygame Classic Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

∞

+ 50 Spins

Everygame Casino

Sign Up

125% up to

$1,000

Casino Extreme

Sign Up

200 Spins

Lucky Tiger Casino

Sign Up

250% up to

$1,000

Casino Brango

Sign Up

500% up to

$/€100

+ 500 Spins

Miami Club Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$100

Rich Palms Casino

Sign Up

250% up to

∞

Highway Casino

Sign Up

250% up to

$2,500

Yabby Casino

Sign Up

202% up to

∞

Uptown Aces

Sign Up

250% up to

∞

DuckyLuck Casino

Sign Up

500% up to

$/€2,500

+ 150 Spins

PlayCroco Casino

Sign Up

300% up to

∞

+ 60 Spins

Fair Go Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

∞

Drake Casino

Sign Up

300% up to

$2,000

Las Vegas USA Casino

Sign Up

400% up to

$500

Ignition Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

$100

Slots Plus

Sign Up

400% up to

$500

Sun Palace Casino

Sign Up

400% up to

$500

+ 25 Spins

Gold Prize Casino

Sign Up

50% up to

$1,000

Casino Max

Sign Up

300% up to

$3,000

El Royale Casino

Sign Up

230% up to

∞

Slots And Casino

Sign Up

500% up to

∞

+ 150 Spins

Slotsroom Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

$2,000

+ 200 Spins

Black Lotus Casino

Sign Up

300% up to

$7,000

+ 45 Spins

Slots Empire

Sign Up

230% up to

$7,500

Lucky Creek

Sign Up

200% up to

$/€7,500

NewVegas Casino

Sign Up

400% up to

$3,000

Spinfinity Casino

Sign Up

300% up to

$3,000

Jackpot Capital

Sign Up

$ 50

Ripper Casino

Sign Up

150% up to

$1,500

Las Atlantis Casino

Sign Up

$ 2,500

Slotastic

Sign Up

400% up to

∞

+ 20 Spins

Grand Eagle

Sign Up

200% up to

$5,500

+ 30 Spins

Cherry Jackpot

Sign Up

400% up to

∞

+ 20 Spins

LadyLuck Casino

Sign Up

100 Spins

Grande Vegas

Sign Up

150% up to

$300

Roaring 21 Casino

Sign Up

400% up to

∞

+ 20 Spins

Ozwin Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

$2,000

+ 50 Spins

Treasure Mile

Sign Up

200% up to

$/€4,000

+ 50 Spins

Wicked Plays

Sign Up

300% up to

$1,000

BetOnline Casino

Sign Up

100 Spins

Grand Rush

Sign Up

100% up to

$1,000

RedCherry Casino

Sign Up

100% up to

$100

Jazz Casino

Sign Up

200% up to

$2,000

+ 100 Spins

BetMGM Casino NJ

Sign Up

100% up to

$1,000

Advantages and Disadvantages

One of the main disadvantages you should be aware of before using Oscar’s Grind is the fact that a long losing streak can drain your bankroll and regardless of the small bets, you might find it difficult to make up for them.

Yet, winnings and losses accumulate quite slowly, which is considered disadvantage by those who want the action to unfold fast and appreciated by people who want to keep track of what they win and what they lose.

Applying Oscar’s Grind in Roulette

Recording betting outcomes and stake changesBefore the first spin of the wheel, you have to set your betting limits and then, choose whether you want to bet on red or black and continue betting on it until you apply Oscar’s Grind strategy.

Let’s presume you bet €1 on red and you lose during the first spin. Then, you place the same bet and place it every time you lose. However, if you win, you may assume that you are allowed to increase your bet and keep increasing it by one unit every time you win. Your roulette cycle is over when your balance becomes +€1 positive.

Oscar’s Grind can also be used on even-money bets in blackjack, craps and baccarat, but it does not change the house edge in any of them.

Conclusion

Oscar’s Grind cannot overcome the house edge, and apart from learning how to apply it you also need self – control and realistic expectations. If you feel that this is not your luckiest day, remember that past results do not affect future spins, so set a loss limit before you start and stop when you reach it.